Kiev war zone: Mass riots in Ukraine on January 22

[Marwell]

The Ukrainian army has begun a special operation against pro-autonomy activists in the eastern town of Slavyansk. The city is now blockaded by the Ukrainian military, with 20 helicopters reportedly deployed to crack down on self-defense forces.
Follow live updates on the special operation in Slavyansk

Two helicopters have been shot down by self-defense forces, according to reports. Earlier, two helicopters were allegedly downed, with two pilots dead and another one captured, RIA Novosti news agency reported. This information was confirmed by Ukraine's coup-appointed Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
Following the loss of the aircraft, Kiev halted their operation.

The total death toll in Slavyansk currently stands at three: besides the two troops, there is also one fatality among the defense forces. Both sides report injuries.
Also, a journalist’s car has reportedly been fired on, according to RT's Paula Slier who is trying to reach the scene, but the Ukrainian army seems to be blocking all entrances to the city - and even Kramatorsk.

The Slavyansk self-defense leader said that helicopters were firing on the city with missiles, but that there have been no reports of damage, Interfax stated.
Slavyansk self-defense forces told RIA Novosti that the Ukrainian military had attacked several positions.
“The attack is targeting a few checkpoints at the same time. A few armored vehicles and airborne combat vehicles arrived and airborne troops descended from the helicopters and attacked the checkpoints. Some forces were dropped off around the train station, where we didn’t have anyone,” RIA Novosti quoted the press secretary of the Slavyansk self-defense units as saying.

https://rt.com/news/156292-slavyansk-army-special-operation/

 

[Marwell]

https://www.ustream.tv/channel/sergackovatv

 

[FUKUMAN]

 

[ReservoirDog]

Its getting worse now.



And

[h=1]Russia condemns Prince Charles over ‘outrageous’ comparison between Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler[/h]

 

[Snail]

‘Chocolate King’ Petro Poroshenko wins Ukraine’s presidential election: exit poll


Ukrainian voters sent Vladimir Putin a sharp message Sunday by turning out in large numbers to elect billionaire Petro Poroshenko as their new president on the first ballot.

Poroshenko replaces Putin ally, Viktor Yanukovych who was toppled in a violent coup in February that triggered Russia’s annexation of Crimea and violence by pro -Moscow separatists in the Donbas industrial heartland in the east of the country.

A slew of exit polls showed that the English-speaking former foreign minister and so-called “Chocolate King” won Sunday’s Ukrainian presidential election outright during the first round with between 55 per cent and 57 per cent of the vote thereby avoiding a runoff election in three weeks.





Read all:

 

[Anto]

A Russian Soldier's Instagram Posts May Be The Clearest Indication Of Moscow's Involvement In East Ukraine

https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-soldier-ukraine-2014-7

 

[User-E]

Putin Bans Food Imports From Countries With Sanctions Against Russia

Interfax is reporting that Russian president Vladimir Putin has issued a decree banning or limiting the import of foodstuffs, farm produce, and raw materials from countries that have signed joint sanctions against Russia.

Among the American companies with exposure to Russia are Philip Morris, Pepsi, and Avon Products, according to a report from Robert Buckland the global strategy team at Citi. The companies most exposed to Russia, according to Citi, are Germany-based Coca-Cola Hellenic and Danish beer maker Carlsberg.

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/report-putin-bans-food-imports-152439093.html

 

[Goodfella]

 

[Bangon]

[h=1]Donetsk Rebels Surrounded, Commander Says[/h]

 

[User-E]

Steven Seagal Plays Blues Gig at Crimean Bikers' Festival

Hollywood actor and singer Steven Seagal has played a gig in the Crimean city of Sevastopol in defiance of international sanctions against Russia's seizure of the Black Sea peninsula last March.

The actor played a set of songs with his blues band late Saturday at an international bikers' event with a strong pro-Russian theme.

Fans waved Russian flags as the singer played guitar on a stage decked out with the black, blue and red flags of Ukrainian rebel group the Donestk People's Republic.

The shows, organized by Russia's Night Wolves biker group -- which has close links with Russian president Vladimir Putin -- featured video screens with images of the Ukrainian army shelling cities in eastern Ukraine.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/steven-seagal-plays-blues-gig-crimean-bikers-festival-171106850.html

 

[User-E]

Could tensions over Ukraine hit space?

With the downing of flight MH17, tensions between Russia and the United States over Ukraine have reached a new high. New tougher sanctions have been put in place, targeting Russia's finance, defence and energy sectors. But Russia may have found a way to hit back - and America's space industry is its target.

... But today, the Americans don't just collaborate with the Russians. They depend on them.

In 2011, the Atlantis Shuttle flew its last mission. Nasa's space shuttle programme had come to an end. Now, to get to the International Space Station (ISS) - a long-serving symbol of unity in space - the Americans have to catch a lift from the Russians on their Soyuz spacecraft, at a cost of more than $60 million a seat.

But as tensions grow over Ukraine, relations between the US and Russia are becoming ever more fraught.

Earlier this year, a leaked memo revealed that Nasa was suspending some of its ties with Russia as part of America's ongoing sanctions, apart from work on the ISS. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin responded by suggesting the Americans send their astronauts into space using a trampoline.

If Russia put a stop to these space taxi rides, American astronauts would be grounded. But Dr Foale says the Russians would lose out, too. "In the case of America and Russia building the ISS, America agreed to build all of the electronics and electric power systems, and Russia agreed to build all of the fuel systems. So, we're joined together in this common endeavour and we both need each other critically," he said.

But it's not just Nasa that relies on Russian space hardware; it's also critical for US security. The Atlas V rockets that launch America's defence and intelligence satellites are powered by engines - called RD-180s - that are bought from Russia.

In essence, America needs Russian technology to spy on Russia. And the supply line is looking increasingly vulnerable.

"This has become a national security concern that we do launch almost all of our reconnaissance satellites on this particular type of rocket," explains General Stephen Cheney, who runs the American Security Project, a Washington-based think-tank. "We can't put up those satellites reliably by ourselves right now, so if Russia said 'we're not giving you any more', we would really have to scramble to find a replacement.

"But perhaps even more ironic is that we are providing the Russians with literally billions of dollars to their defence industry... and who knows what they're using that money for. "They might even be buying anti-aircraft missiles to supply to the rebels in the Ukraine with this money."

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28573788

 

[Pullmyfinger]

[h=1]Ukraine Decries 'Invasion' As Russian Convoy Enters Ukraine[/h]
https://www.rferl.org/content/russian-convoy-rolling-into-ukraine/26544790.html

 

[McGuinty]

Meanwhile in Ukraine.

 

[Wanker]

President Vladimir Putin privately said he could invade Poland, Romania and the Baltic states, according to a record of a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart.
“If I wanted, in two days I could have Russian troops not only in Kyiv, but also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucharest,” Mr. Putin allegedly told President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, reported Suddeustche Zeitung, a German newspaper.

If true, this would be the first time Mr. Putin has referred to invading NATO or European Union members. Any serious threat to send Russian troops into the capitals of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Romania would cause grave alarm among Western leaders.

 

[Wanker]

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/...ops_tanks_rolling_into_ukraine_says_nato.html


[h=1]Russian troops, tanks rolling into Ukraine, says NATO[/h][h=2]NATO reported seeing columns of Russian tanks, artillery and air defence systems and Russian combat troops entering Ukraine.[/h]

 

[Champy]

[h=1]Russia in a spin as its Putin goes missing[/h]

 

[Aztek]

[h=1]‘Putin Involved in Drug Smuggling Ring’, Says Ex-KGB Officer[/h]
https://www.newsweek.com/putin-involved-drug-smuggling-ring-says-ex-kgb-officer-313657#.VQNNRPBF1GY

 

[Wanker]

[h=1]Where is Vladimir Putin? Kremlin denies Russian president had love child with girlfriend[/h]

 

[Stoner]

Any recent news or is it passe now and Putin will just go away with his billions hidden in offshore islands.